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HONDURAS

Since January 2008, entry into force in June 2010

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Ratification of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Honduras has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

Since 2015

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Honduras has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

Since 2013

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Honduras has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Honduras's law and jurisprudence. Despite the country having committed under Art. 15.11.27 of the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States FTA to implement a safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringing content, no regulation has been put in place that implements this commitment.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

HONDURAS

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place beyond copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Honduras law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

HONDURAS

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
User identity requirement
According to the National Telecommunication Commission of Honduras (CONATEL), users should provide a document of identity for providers of Internet services or computer network access.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

HONDURAS

Since February 2012

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Normative Resolution No. 002/12 (Resolución No. NR002/12)
According to the Normative Resolution No. 001/12, operators of telephone service shall collect data, including the name of the SIM card buyer and ID number for the Hondurans and passport or residence card number for foreigners.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

HONDURAS

Since May 2011

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Monitoring requirement
Normative Resolution No. 004/11 - Regulations on Internet Service or Access To Networks (Resolución Normativa No. NR004/11 - Reglamento de Servicio de Internet o Acceso a Redes Informáticas)
According to Art. 22 of Normative Resolution 004/11 (NR004/11), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to implement a security system designed to prevent, monitor, and detect illegal activities that may be carried out by users. If such activities are detected, service operators must notify the competent authority in writing and offer full cooperation during the investigative process.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

HONDURAS

Since December 2002

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
General Regulation of the Framework Law for the Telecommunications Sector (Reglamento General de la Ley Marco del Sector de Telecomunicaciones)
Wireless products and equipment that connect to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), along with other Radio Frequency equipment, require type approval and certification in Honduras. There is no in-country testing required and existing international test reports are accepted for the homologation process to obtain the CONATEL approval. Technical documents are reviewed and validated in the approval process. Homologation can also be done through an international entity (Title V, arts. 213-220 B of the General Regulation to the Telecommunications Law). Products requiring CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) approval include PBX; routers, modems, and gateways; RFID and Bluetooth modules; and cell phones.
Coverage PBX; routers, modems, and gateways; RFID and Bluetooth modules; cell phones

HONDURAS

Since December 2016, entry into force in January 2017, last amended in December 2021

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Sub-pillar Local storage requirement
Decree No. 170-2016 - Tax Code (Decreto No. 170-2016 - Código Tributario)
According to Art. 63.3 of the Tax Code, taxpayers or the persons responsible for tax must conserve accounting books and special records, documents and other records of the taxable activity, electronic files, programs, sub programs and other records processed by electronic or computer systems, in an orderly manner and keep them in their fiscal domicile at the immediate disposal of the Finance Office's State Secretariat ('SEFIN'), the Customs Tax Superintendency, the Tax Administration or the Customs Administration, when requested or when duly accredited public servants show up at their fiscal domicile in order to request documentation or tax information. This information must be kept for a period of five years by taxpayers registered with the National Tax Registry and for a period of seven years in other cases. In addition, Art. 64.3 states that taxpayers must keep their accounting records at their fiscal domicile without prejudice to having contracted accounting services within the country.
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

N/A

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Sub-pillar Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of binding commitments on cross-border data flows
Honduras has acceded to several agreements covering cross-border data aspects, but the relevant provisions on cross-border data flows are not binding. The agreements include the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States (Chapter 14.5), the Free Trade Agreement between the United Mexican States and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (Chapter 15), Canada Honduras Free Trade Agreement (Chapter 16.5).
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

N/A

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Lack of comprehensive data protection regime
There is no comprehensive data protection law in Honduras. The Law for the Protection of Confidential Personal Data is currently being discussed in the Honduran Congress. Personal data is mainly regulated under the Law of Transparency and Access to Public Information (Decree No. 170 – 2006), which introduced some accountability for those public entities who mishandled confidential personal data. In addition, the General Regulations of the Framework Law for the Telecommunications Sector defines seizing, using or modifying the reserved data of a private nature as very serious offences that are subject to administrative sanctions by the National Telecommunication Commission of Honduras (CONATEL) and the Public Ministry. Moreover, the Criminal Code imposes criminal responsibility for infringing privacy.
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

Since May 2011

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Sub-pillar Minimum period for data retention
Regulation of Internet Service or Access to Computer Networks (Reglamento del Servicio de Internet o Acceso a Redes Informáticas)
According to Art. 20 of the Regulation of Internet Service or Access to Computer Networks, operators of Internet services or providing access to computer networks should conserve IP addresses for at least one year to serve as a source for judicial investigation.
Coverage Operators of Internet services

HONDURAS

Since June 2006

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Honduras is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

HONDURAS

Since January 2000

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyright and Related Rights Law (Ley del Derecho de Autor y de los Derechos Conexos)
Honduras has a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follows the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. Arts. 46-57 of the Copyright and Related Rights Law lists the exceptions for the lawful use of the copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission.
Coverage Horizontal

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